Nine smiling faces — all female, all employees at Astroworld — were displayed across the front of the Houston Chronicle’s local news section on June 16, 1968. No story accompanied the photos, taken by longtime staff photographer Tom Colburn, just a few lines of information.

“The singing commercial for Astroworld tells us all about the wonderful world of fun awaiting visitors, but among the nicest attractions are the pretty faces of the young ladies who wear the various Astroworld uniforms,” according to the cutline that accompanied the photos.

By the time these pictures were published, the park had only been open for a couple of weeks. Most of the women pictured here were either attending, or had attended, colleges around the region.

These last few decades, the photos have been tucked inside an old envelope sealed with tape and stuffed inside our Astroworld photo file.

Now, for the first time in 46 years, we’re republishing these photos along with a few other pictures — 18 in all — that did not end up in print back then.

Whatever happened to Barbara Tolden, Becky Laughter and Pam Patton? Maybe they and all the others who were there at the early days of Astroworld will see these photos and share their memories of working there. We’ll let you know.

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Out on the southwest edge of downtown, on Andrews Street near Howe, you’ll find the newest Harris County historical marker.

This one pays tribute to West End Park, the second home of the Houston Buffaloes, the city’s professional Texas League baseball team. Before the Astrodome, Colt Stadium or even Buff Stadium, West End Park was the site for Houston sports in the early days of the 20th century.

Mike Vance, executive director of Houston Arts and Media, led the effort to get the marker, which was administered by the Harris County Historical Society.